UPCOMING EVENTS

Nintendo’s frenetic fighting game has established itself as one of the top competitive games in the world.

Major League Gaming announced today that it will host events for Super Smash Bros. Melee and Super Smash Bros. for Wii U at its World Finals 2015 event in October. Both games will have $10,000 prize pools that up to 256 competitors will have the chance to fight over. The inclusion of one of Nintendo’s biggest games should help increase the viewership and attendance numbers for MLG’s biggest annual event. And it should help propel the company forward in the esports market, which is on pace to generate $465 million in spending by 2017.

If you’re interested in competing, you can head to New Orleans starting October 16 and purchase a $50 single tournament player pass — or you can buy an entrance into both events for $70.

Super Smash Bros. is an example of how MLG is trying to keep its esports offerings diverse. The World Finals will, of course, feature games like the shooter Call of Duty and the multiplayer online arena battlers Dota 2 and Smite. Those are among the biggest draws in competitive gaming, but fighters are also growing quickly. The Evo fighting game tournament from earlier this year had its biggest audience ever.

According to livestreaming video site Twitch, Evo’s 2015 views grew 113 percent year-over-year to 18 million. While Street Fighter IV was the biggest Evo game, Smash Bros. was right behind it in terms of popularity.

With that in mind, and with Street Fighter locked up in the Capcom Pro Tour, MLG is likely looking at Smash Bros. as a way to capture an audience that normally wouldn’t show up for its other marquee events.